The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refuted the latest report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which sparked controversy in the energy sector.
Last week, IEA stated in its report ''The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions'' that the oil and gas industry faces a "moment of truth."
The industry has been told to "choose between fueling the climate crisis or embracing the shift to clean energy" against the IEA's proposed normative net-zero scenario.
OPEC indicated that recently, the IEA presented an "extremely narrow framing of the challenges before us, and perhaps expediently plays down such issues as energy security, energy access, and energy affordability."
It also unjustly vilifies the industry as being behind the climate crisis.
OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais said it was ironic that the IEA, an agency that has repeatedly shifted its narratives and forecasts in recent years, now addresses the oil and gas industry and says this is a "moment of truth."
Ghais noted that this manner in which the IEA has unfortunately used its "social media platforms in recent days to criticize and instruct the oil and gas industry is undiplomatic, to say the least."
"OPEC itself is not an organization that would prescribe to others what they should do."
OPEC also believes that the proposed IEA' Framework to assess the alignment of company targets with the NZE Scenario' is intended to curtail the sovereign actions and choices of oil- and gas-producing developing countries by pressuring their national oil companies.
The framework also contradicts the Paris Agreement's 'bottom-up' approach, where each country decides the means of contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions reduction based on national capabilities and circumstances.
It would likely lead to reduced investment and undermine the security of supplies, which is one of the IEA's key mandates.
OPEC stated it was regrettable that the IEA report now also calls technologies such as carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) an "illusion," even though Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment reports endorse such technologies as part of the solution to tackle climate change.
"The truth that needs to be spoken is simple and clear to those who wish to see it. It is that the energy challenges before us are enormous and complex and cannot be limited to one binary question," said Ghais.
"Energy security, energy access, and energy affordability for all must go hand-in-hand with reducing emissions. This requires major investments in all energies, all technologies, and an understanding of the needs of all peoples."
"At OPEC, we repeat that we believe the world has to concentrate on the task of reducing emissions, not choosing energy sources," he added.
The OPEC statement noted that in a world where "more dialogue is needed, we repeat that finger-pointing is not a constructive approach."
It asserted the importance of working collaboratively and acting with determination to ensure that emissions are reduced and people have access to the energy products and services required to live a comfortable life.
"These twin challenges should not be at odds with each other," said Ghais.
Ghais added, "We see a 'moment of truth' ahead. We need to understand that all countries have their own orderly energy transition pathways. We need an assurance that all voices are heard, not just a select few, and we need to ensure that energy transitions enable economic growth, enhance social mobility, boost energy access, and reduce emissions at the same time."
Meanwhile, Kuwait announced it was committed to any OPEC decisions, especially those concerning market quotas and oil production.
The comments came during a meeting between Japan's ambassador to Kuwait, Morino Yasunari, and the Gulf country's OPEC governor, Mohammad al-Shatti, the oil ministry said in a post on social media platform X on Monday.
OPEC+ is looking at deepening oil production cuts despite its policy meeting being postponed to this Thursday amid a quota disagreement between some producers.
OPEC and allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, will begin online meetings to decide oil output levels at 1300 GMT on Thursday.
Several analysts have said they expect OPEC+ to extend or even deepen supply cuts into next year to support prices.
On Monday, Oil prices fell, with the Brent benchmark dipping below $80 a barrel as investors awaited this week's OPEC+ meeting and expected curbs on supplies into 2024.
Brent crude futures were down 60 cents, at $79.98 a barrel.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lost 68 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $74.86.
